I am just looking for ideas on how to correct my 5 month old. She has peed in the house four days in a row now. Which I have not hit her, yelled or anthing tk her. I just started brining her out more and right when I take her out of her crate to use the bathroom.

But I think I can work on that but how do u guys work on less biting. I play around with my pup on the ground and I take the bites but once its to harsh I stop and in a firm voice I tell her no and put her in a down stay. Then resume. Is this good practice?

But she has started digging up my vegetable garden in the back and when I come out she runs and sometimes has me chasing her. (She thinks its a game, because she will goto one side of te planter box, and knowing I cant get her she will take a chomp at one of the plants and run off. The first time I caught her I hit her in the butt and pinned her down. (Which was very dumb and I acted out of anger) but now I know I cannot do that.

But anyway, what ive been doing now if I catch her doing destruction I either put her in a down stay on her bed or crate her. But if its minor j run for treats or a tug to get her mind off what shes doing. But how does she learn to not do that? Will it come over time?

our 6 month old is still on long line in the house and outside. I wouldn't give that much freedom yet to a pup so young to ever allow him in the garden in the first place. He is curious and young and still learning boundaries. I know it's a pain in the butt to always have to be there, but when he goes outside, he needs a lead on him and you should be there. That way, if he heads to the garden, you can say "Ah ah or leave it" and lead him away from the garden by the lead. If you do this now, overtime you can sit on the patio enoying your cup of coffee while he explores the back yard and if he heads to the garden, you can "Ah ah or leave it" from your chair and he will remember what you taught him while he was young and on the lead. Think about it this way: If he has never been taught to leave the garden alone, then is it really fair to punish him for exploring and digging in it? It sounds more time consuming to do it this way, but really if you put in the effort now, it will payoff big ways for the full life of the dog.

I did a parenting class a LONG tiime ago at my church and the one thing that always stuck with me is this: The word discipline is derived from the word disciple which means "to teach" (not to punish)...so put teaching in the front of your mind and correct only after you are 100% sure that the behavior has been fully taught.

The other thing is, if you are laying on the ground "taking bites", you are allowing your dog to treat you like a littermate. At 5 months, you can start working on controlled playing. Make the dog sit for a toy or before taking the tug toy (we use the command "take it"). The dog is not allowed to take the toy no matter what until you say the command. Also start practicing "out" or "drop it" using a treat. And give lots of praise when they are behaving appropriately. If they get too rough, game over.

Good luck! I think it was less work raising my human children! The good thing aboutt dogs though is that you can crate them when you can't supervise!

Why is disciplining a pup for something it was told not to do such a bad thing ??? As long as it is evenhanded and commensurate with the transgression at it's current understanding of the "law". Yes, it is a game ( the digging up of the garden ) and your pup has skillfully learned how to get you to engage....smart little dogs..aren't they. I'd go for a distraction immediately and better yet, a moment or two before you suspect the behavior will begin initiate the distraction. However, teaching a "leave it " command will benefit you greatly in this department.

The peeing in the house is a different story....I agree with your strategy...when they get it right..praise them like crazy....if you catch them in the act in the house, I'd be stern and drag (direct) them outside instantly. As always, any scent left in the house where they last peed needs to be completely eliminated otherwise it's just so inviting to that full bladder when they come across that spot again.

about the peeing inside house , I am still not sure how I did it , but when she finishes eating or every 30-60 minutes I take her out , when she pees I take her back inside, and after 2 weeks she started going outside her her self she pees and plays then comes back inside.

about the digging part , take her poo and put it in the holes she dig in and put some spicy pepper on it, worked with my old puppy

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The reason its bad is alot of dogs will shut down with harsh corrections. If all you want is a lapdog then thats ok. If you want a confident dog then you dont shut them down, you build drives/

I suppose that might be true with "harsh corrections" but of course I never remotely suggested that...what I did state was " evenhanded and commensurate with the transgression at it's current understanding of the "law"."......hopefully you did not construe that as "harsh".

I have my hierarchy, when it comes to 'bad' behavior. I don't get on our almost 7 month old for most digging or eating the asparagus, though I do try to redirect. I do come down hard when it comes to the big stuff, like way to 'mouthy' with a family member.

We just got back from a 2+ mile off leash walk. She's always better behaved after a good walk. I've seen dogs with a wide range of temperament, one method isn't best for all, dogs or owners.

When a house-trained bitch starts peeing in the house, it is time to go to the vet and look for a urinary tract infection.

When a house-trained bitch starts peeing in the house, it is time to go to the vet and look for a urinary tract infection. If she has a UTI, then punishing her for this is not fair.

As for your yard, well, of course it is a game. You have a 5 month old puppy who is finding ways to engage you in play. If you do not want that to be the outcome, then you need to stop what you are doing and prevent access to the plants that you do not want mauled. And play with your puppy.

Teach her to be gentle. Once you teach her what gentle means, using lots of treats and doing it right, by taking some time with it, saying the word and treating when she tries to take the treat gently, you can tell her, remind her to be gentle with your fingers. But you have to TEACH her what GENTLE means first.

If you tell your puppy to come to you when you cannot enforce it immediately, you are teaching your puppy that she can ignore that command. And that is a life skill. That is one you want to be 100% with and then 100% with distractions on lead before you ever try it off lead.

But anyway, what ive been doing now if I catch her doing destruction I either put her in a down stay on her bed or crate her. But if its minor j run for treats or a tug to get her mind off what shes doing. But how does she learn to not do that? Will it come over time?

If you try to think of the big picture, your pup is trying to keep herself busy on her own. She thinks the world belongs to her. Everything she can reach is hers to play, eat, chew and destroy. She's a little spit fire! That is a GOOD thing! You want to build on it. You want a confident pup!

Your pup says the vegetable garden belongs to her to destroy! You say, no, the garden is mine. This tuggy thing is yours to destroy! Look, Tug is much more fun. I can run with Tug! I can make Tug squeak! I can throw Tug for you! Look! Here is Tug!

Or - You can say "NO! GET OUT OF THE GARDEN!" and let your pup figure out that just pissed you off. You might even smack her and throw her to the ground. She'll go find something else to do on her own. But what do you think that did to train her?

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